Matthew Perry, a celebrated actor best known for his role as Chandler Bing on the iconic sitcom “Friends,” reportedly passed away at the age of 54.
According to law enforcement officials, Perry was found dead in a jacuzzi at his home in Los Angeles. Officials say no drugs were found at the scene.
His untimely demise has left fans and co-stars in a state of shock and grief.
Matthew Perry was born on August 19, 1969, in Williamstown, Massachusetts. His mother, Suzanne Morrison, was a journalist and press aide to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, the father of current Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Perry’s father, John Bennett Perry, pursued a career in acting and modeling. He also had a stepfather, Keith Morrison, who is known for his work on “Dateline.”
Perry moved to Ottawa, Canada, where he attended the same elementary school as Justin Trudeau. In his teenage years, Perry moved to Los Angeles to pursue his acting career.
Perry started his acting career with guest appearances on a few TV shows. He also played the recurring character Chazz Russell on “Boys Will Be Boys” from 1987 to 1988, before landing roles on “Growing Pains” and “Sydney.”
Perry’s big break came in 1994 when he was cast as Chandler Bing in NBC’s sitcom “Friends.” His sarcastic and commitment-phobic character quickly became a fan favorite.
Perry’s performance on “Friends,” which ran for ten seasons, earned him an Emmy nomination in 2002. The show’s popularity led to Perry and his co-stars – Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer – earning a staggering $1 million per episode.
Personal Struggles and Addictions
Despite his success, Perry battled addiction throughout his time on “Friends.” He sought treatment in 1997 and 2001 and admitted in a candid interview in 2016 that he didn’t remember filming seasons 3 to 6 of “Friends.”
In a 2013 interview, Perry admitted to abusing alcohol and Vicodin, which he was prescribed following a 1997 Jet Ski accident. “I had a big problem with alcohol and pills and I couldn’t stop,” Perry said. “Eventually things got so bad that I couldn’t hide it, and then everybody knew.”
Recovery and Advocacy
Perry’s struggle with addiction eventually led him to found Perry House, a men’s sober living facility. He became an advocate for addiction recovery, often stating that he could help others because he had “screwed up so often.”
In 2015, Perry was honored for his advocacy by the treatment center Phoenix House, where he stated, “You can’t have a drug problem for 30 years and then expect to have it be solved in 28 days.”
Post-“Friends” Career
After “Friends” ended in 2004, Perry starred in several projects, including “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,” “Mr. Sunshine,” and “Go On.” He also co-starred alongside Thomas Lennon in CBS’s reboot of “The Odd Couple” for three seasons from 2015-17.
Perry worked in theater as well, starring in the play “The End of Longing” in London in 2016. His film credits include “Fools Rush In,” “The Whole Nine Yards,” “Serving Sara,” and “17 Again.”
Legacy
Perry will be remembered for his undeniable talent, his iconic role as Chandler Bing, and his advocacy for addiction recovery. His untimely death is a significant loss to the entertainment industry and his millions of fans worldwide. His life and career, full of ups and downs, serve as a reminder of the often overlooked struggles that can accompany fame.
“The interesting reason that I can be so helpful to people now is that I screwed up so often,” – Matthew Perry
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